The former Chobani site on State Route 320 in Norwich is the targeted location of a possible solar microgrid that would generate and keep power locally. (Photo by Shawn Magrath)

NORWICH – Chenango County planners are fishing for the interest of a regionally based solar company that may well create a solar microgrid in the Norwich area that lowers energy costs for local businesses and residents.

The Chenango County Planning Department, in conjunction with Commerce Chenango, is in early talks with a company called Acadia Energy, a not-for-profit subsidiary that partners with local officials, environmental organizations and residents, to create solar projects throughout the region. Acadia generates energy that gets used locally first then sells remaining energy to the grid in order to turn a profit for its sister commercial organization.

The concept is different from other solar projects in that energy generated locally would be used locally, said Chenango County Department of Planning Director Shane Butler.

“Basically, rather than having a solar company come in and plop solar panels wherever they want and sell electricity to New York City, what Acadia is proposing is to actually work with municipalities in the county and put them where we want them near economic development centers,” Butler said. “Whatever electricity we can’t use locally then goes into the grid to make their money back. So they’ll still have this economics that fit them; but at the same time, they’re selling energy close.”

Solar energy produced by Acadia would be made available to entities within five miles of the production site, meaning the biggest payoffs would come from having a production facility near the hub of local commerce.